The famous cotton barrage that was commissioned on 14th April 1852 has completed 150 years of service.
The project has a capacity to irrigate 16,90,000 acres of land under its three delta systems in east and west Godavari districts. In the first quarter of 1800, the agricultural lands in east Godavari district were effected due to floods and devastation. The subsequent drought in 1833 left the district without proper food security and safe drinking water supply.
The population of the district that stood around 7,38,000 used to pay a tax of rs 18,72,000 to the British authorities.
However, by 1842, the population of the district touched down to 5,61,000. Consequently, the revenue receipts too were down to 16,13,000. When the predominantly farming community expressed its desire to migrate en mass to other districts, the British authorities had appointed Sir Arthur cotton to review the situation and come up with a report. In 1845, cotton submitted his report, suggesting that if a well-irrigated system was put in place; all the areas under the Godavari delta would become high producers.
Following this, the British authorities had immediately approved cotton's recommendations and ordered for the construction of a barrage, and the works had taken off immediately.
About 1,500 workers toiled round the clock to complete the 11,948 feet barrage, having four sections, connecting east and west Godavari districts in a record time of three years. It commissioned its operations on 14th April, 1852. While till the commencement of the barrage, only 80,000 acres of land were irrigated in the district, with the barrage commencing its operations, the extent of irrigated land had risen to above 15 lakh acres.
The depth of the anicut of the barrage was enhanced to 38 feet in 1882. By 1889, about 6,18,000 acres, and by 1936, about 7,74,500 acres of land were brought under irrigation. As way back as 1847-52, the barrage had three canals for eastern, western and central deltas.
The famous cotton barrage that was commissioned on 14th April 1852 has completed 150 years of service. The project has a capacity to irrigate 16,90,000 acres of land under its three delta systems in east and west Godavari districts. In the first quarter of 1800, the agricultural lands in east Godavari district were effected due to floods and devastation. The subsequent drought in 1833 left the district without proper food security and safe drinking water supply. The population of the district that stood around 7,38,000 used to pay a tax of rs 18,72,000 to the British authorities. However, by 1842, the population of the district touched down to 5,61,000. Consequently, the revenue receipts too were down to 16,13,000. When the predominantly farming community expressed its desire to migrate en mass to other districts, the British authorities had appointed Sir Arthur cotton to review the situation and come up with a report. In 1845, cotton submitted his report, suggesting that if a well-irrigated system was put in place; all the areas under the Godavari delta would become high producers. Following this, the British authorities had immediately approved cotton's recommendations and ordered for the construction of a barrage, and the works had taken off immediately. About 1,500 workers toiled round the clock to complete the 11,948 feet barrage, having four sections, connecting east and west Godavari districts in a record time of three years. It commissioned its operations on 14th April, 1852. While till the commencement of the barrage, only 80,000 acres of land were irrigated in the district, with the barrage commencing its operations, the extent of irrigated land had risen to above 15 lakh acres. The depth of the anicut of the barrage was enhanced to 38 feet in 1882. By 1889, about 6,18,000 acres, and by 1936, about 7,74,500 acres of land were brought under irrigation. As way back as 1847-52, the barrage had three canals for eastern, western and central deltas.